For 13 years Lieutenant Emily Simerly has worked for the University of Tennessee Police Department. Out of those years, eight of them were in the investigations department, four were on patrol and for the past year Simerly has been Lieutenant of the Community Relations Unit.

Simmerly is a University of Tennessee graduate and has a degree in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice. Upon her graduation she heard about a job with the UTPD through a friend and decided to go for it. She enjoyed the campus environment and has been there ever since.

The job description of Simerly is still evolving and consists of a variety of duties. She is over the educational programming such as crime prevention programs and the liason program which assigns officers to be with specific departments like sororities and athletics. Simerly is also in charge of training for the department, the vehicle fleet and the UTPD webpage. "I have one of those jobs that is ever-changing," she said.

Everyone is responsible to make choices for their own safety. Emily Simerly, UTPD lieutenantSimerly enjoys her job in community relations. When asked what her favorite thing about her job was she said,"It is making a difference...whether it is on a small level or a large level."

Simerly believes that the recent increase in crime is atypical for our area. She also thinks that with e-mail more students are made aware of the crimes on campus and in the Knoxville area.

"Everyone is responsible to make choices for their own safety,"Simerly said. She wants students to make smart decisions, especially on this Halloween. She said students need to stop and think about their actions and decisions, particularly in relation to alcohol consumption.

For Halloween Simerly advised that students stay in large groups and not walk around alone at night. Pedestrians should wear reflective costumes so that motorists can see them easily.

"Make smart choices," she said.

Simerly also had some advice for trick-or-treaters. Some of her tips are:

• Go to places you know.
• Choose well lit neighborhoods.
• Wear visible costumes, possibly with reflectors.
• Take a flashlight.
• If people have their lights off, don't go there!
• Choose pre-packaged candy.

Last Halloween vandalisms, suspicious costumes and alcohol-related crimes were the main crimes in the campus area. Simerly said that there was not a large crime increase last Halloween. The UTPD will increase their patrols for Halloween as they do on every holiday.